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April 20, 2026

The Meaning of the Hebrew Months

“First fruits,” “blossom,” and “season.”

Saturday was the first day of Iyar, the second (or eighth) month of the Jewish year. Although the Hebrew calendar dates back to the Torah itself, the current names for the months are newer, brought back from Babylon, apparently, by Jews returning from exile. Dan D.Y. Shapira delves into their etymologies:

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